APrh. 1?, 1890.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



2S9 



extent affect the form of sail, and for this reason it is referred to 

 here. A flat battened sail is, comparatively speaking, an easy 

 one to make, because it can always, by means of the batteus, be 

 stretched wherever necessary and made to sit. A battenless sail, 

 especially with draft, is, however, a very different thing, and it is 

 doubtfnl whether any amateur could produce one which would be 

 at all suitable for racing purposes in good company. The canoe- 

 ist is, therefore, advised to continue using battens unless his sail- 

 maker thoroughly understands his business. In making sails, 

 allowance must he made for the stretch of material, which will 

 vary with its weight and character. Linen and cotton are so dis- 

 similar in their nature that the cloths have to be cut in an entirely 

 different mauner. A smoother and better surface would be ob- 

 tained if bights were omitted, but without them draft could not 

 be given nor a proper form obtained for the sail when fully 

 stretched. 



The draft is given to the sail by cutting the material on the for- 

 ward part of the sail rather wider, a short distance up each cloth, 

 than either above or below, and slowly flattening out the surface 

 as it approaches the peak and the leech. Both the upper and 

 after portions of the sail must be absolutely flat, otherwise in the 

 one case the sail will not draw, and in the other will not let the 

 wind pass over it rapidly and easily, and at the same time get the 

 full share of work out of it. It is now considered very essential 

 that the leech should not be reinforced, more than necessary to 

 prevent tearing, because otherwise it will not stretch with the ad- 

 joining cloth and will cause a bag, and so hold the wind and re- 

 tard t he boat. 



There is very little stretch across the middle body of the sail, 

 but a great deal on the hoist and along the boom. If the sail 

 were originally cut with a straight leech, the result would be that 

 when stretched it would have a hollow as shown by line c, Fig. 1. 

 To overcome this, ihe middle portion of the sail is made of its 

 fully required size, while the head and foot are cut smaller. The 

 sail when finished appears to have a rounded leech as in line a, 

 but in sailing the draft takes up the extra width until the stretch- 

 ing is complete, when the leech sbould be perfectlv straight, as 

 line b. 



The luff is better cut straight, without round at the head, and 

 should be strengthened to stand the strain pat upon it by the 

 tack. Until recently the practice has been to round the head 

 more or less to allow lighter spars to be used, the theory being 

 that the strain of the bent stick kept the leech taut. Whilst this 

 was found correct so far as it went, it overleoked the fact fhat 

 the side pressure on the stick was very great and with the sliding 

 seat is now greater. If the stick were made stiff enough to over- 

 come this pressure and stand up to its work, it was at once too 

 stiff to bend to the shape of sail. The rounded head has therefore 

 been abandoned and the small amount now put in by the sail- 

 maker usually stretches out in a short while. Great care must be 

 exercised in hauling out the sail not to put any strain on it, but 

 only to take up the slack. 



Sixirs — These should be so well proportioned that they will al- 

 ways stand up to the duty required of them without bending, 

 otherwise the sit of the sail will be spoiled, and speed sacrificed. 

 It is belter to use smaller sails with suitable spars than larger 

 ones with light spars, because greater power will be obtained. Bv 

 careful designing a great deal of weight can be saved in spars. To 

 do this best a record should be kept of all designs, with the length 

 and thickness all the way along. By comparing the different 

 plans with experience in use, the proper strength with minimum 

 of weight can be obtained. Hollow spars are used on the Lowell 

 boats, but the probability is that the expense will prevent their 

 general adoption. When used.'canoeists should remember that a 

 hollow spar, to be equally as strong as a solid one, must be greater 

 in diameter. In a solid mast the full thickness should be carried 

 well up and then only tapered slowly. The upper end of the yard 

 and the after end of the boom should be quite stout to keep a taut 

 leech; any bend in either will do a great deal of harm. 



In conclusion, all canoeists should be urged to watch carefully 

 the action of sails in all kind of wind and weather, with the in- 

 fluence exerted by them on the boat. In this way improvements 

 will continue to be made as in the past. At present, the more any 

 one studies the more he learns how little he know T s on the subject. 



A very interesting lecture on vacht sails, by Mr. Gilbert H. 

 Wilson, was published in the Forest and Stream of April 4,1889. 



NEW BEDFORD 0. O. - The annual meeting of the New Bed- 

 ford C. C, was held on April 2, when the following officers were 

 elected: Capt., Wm. A. De Costa; Mate. Wm. Frost; Sec.-Treas., 

 John S. Wright: Sailing Master, Asa T. Thomson. It was decided 

 to build a club house, to be located on Fish Island, probably on 

 the east side. The house will be 16xl7f t. in area, one story, and 

 will accommodate twelve canoes. It will be ready in May. A 

 great deal of local interest is being manifested in canoeing. The 

 club now numbers seventeen men with fourteen canoes. It will 

 continue to rent the floating house used the past three years. 



A. C. A. MEET— TRANSPORTATION.— The steamer Manhas- 

 sett, mentioned last week, runs between New London and Sag 

 Harbor. We will publish the times of departure as soon as the 

 summer time table is announced, 



1,500 MILES IN AN ADIRONDACK BOAT. 



PART xvr. 



HUDSON RIVER, Oct. 22, Wednesday. -I was up at 5:20, before 

 light. The rosy dawning was very beautiful on the river 

 from my window, with the dark range of mountains in the back- 

 ground. Before the day fairly began I thought the Matteawan 

 Mountains were a dark cloud, so high were they. Breakfast over 

 the start was made at 6:10, with an ebb tide and the wind ahead, 

 blowing a gale from the south, as usual. Were it not for this op- 

 position, which I have endured since leaving Albany, to-morrow 

 would see me nearing New York. I had a most uncomfortable 

 row, and not without danger, as the waves were very high. Tak- 

 ing the middle of the river, with 1J^ miles of water on each side, 

 1 pulled carefully but steadily for t tie narrows below. The wind 

 has a, clear sweep on the water for 9 or 10 miles on Newburgh Bay, 

 and it frequently bore me back in spite of every effort; the oars 

 being on several occasions knocked out of my hands. 



There is an island in the middle of the Hudson just north of the 

 narrows, and at otte time I attempted to gain this, being of the 

 opinion that my boat, with its open well, could not live much 

 longer in such a sea. [Canoeists who attended the Newburgh 

 spring meets of 1881-5 will remember Pollapel Island— Ed.1 The 

 wind, blowing through an opening in the mountains like a hurri- 

 cane, came in most violent gusts. Several schooners were beat- 

 ing down against it, and they made a tine sight, with close-reefed 

 sails, throwing the water from their bows at every plunge. It 

 was hard labor, but I finally passed the Narrows, where the Hud- 

 son contracts to one-third of its normal size, with Breakneck 

 Mountain on one side of the entrance and Storm King on the 

 other, guarding the passage into the Highlands. The scenery be- 

 came exceedingly fine, the foliage on the lofty mountains being 

 very T brilliant, while great rocky cliffs and precipices overhung 

 the river. 



At 10 o'clock I made West Point landing, ten miles below New- 

 burgh, and emptying the water out of my boat, sat down to sew 

 up my clothes, w 7 hich were in an unseemly condition, and did not, 

 by reason of their gaping holes, permit me to enter the haunts of 

 men. Arriving at Newburgh in the dark, and leaving before day- 

 light, such discrepancies were not noticed; now, however, the 

 stern proprieties of civilization peremptorily demanded reform 

 before appeariug in public. After the operation things were not 

 so handsome as they were before, but a great deal stronger. 



Leaving my boat on the slip under the guard of some cannon, 

 32-pounders, 1 marched up to the West Point Hotel, situated 200ft. 

 above the water, which belongs to the Government, inspecting 

 the various fortifications on the way, and greatlv admiring the 

 extensive views. After registering at the hotel I walked all over 

 the fine grounds, looked at the cavalry stables, examined the 

 monuments, guns, earthworks, etc., and finally witnessed the 

 cavalry drill at 11 o'clock. I saw, moreover, the old earthworks, 

 thrown up in 177(5, the building and the pretty cottages of the pro- 

 fessors. I dined at 1 P. M. and joined my boat at 2:80, the tide 

 being now against me, which, together with the furious wind, 

 made progress so slow that the temptation presented itself to put 

 back and stay all night. Later a hard shower came up, and some 

 hard squalls from the southwest that made the water fairly fly. 

 I stood this for some time, irying to gain the west shore, but the 

 wind was so powerful that it wan quite impossible. 



Finally, while in the middle of the river, there came from a gap 

 in the mountains half a mile distant, a sudden and terrific blast 

 of wind, and I had barely time to put the boat about, so as to face 

 the gale, when in quicker time than it takes to write it, I was 

 blown ashore, being powerless to pull a stroke or even to hold my 

 oars in the air. Reaching the rock-bound shore, 1 jumped out, 

 turned the boat over and made for a small house hard by to 

 escape tue drenching pour that followed. Fortunately the wind 

 had not caught me broadside on or I should certainly have been 

 upset The water was flattened down almost smooth, while the 

 wind blew fine spray up from its surface, and the air was white 

 from the whizzing elements. The locality was quite isolated, 

 there being only a small chemical mill and "a few tenement houses 

 for the laborers about it. The people in whose abode I took 

 refuge could not keep me all night, but referred me to a wretched 

 little laborers' boarding house, and my heart sank on entering 

 the vile hovel, filled with smells and smoke. Seeing my disgust, 

 the good woman of the house went to a dank little deserted 

 shanty near by, and fitting up a room and bed there gave me the 

 key. Locking myself in, I read and wrote until 9 P. M. Only 14 

 miles made to day, and I fretted much over my hard luck— and 

 sore finger. 



Hudson River, Ttiursday, Oct. 23— Had breakfast at 0, then walk- 

 ing down the railroad track to my boat got off at 7 in a strong 

 northwest wind. I passed Dunderberg Mountain, Anthony's Nose 

 and several other notable mountains, the scenery on all sides 

 being magnificent. The river wound about among these peaks 

 considerably. While going through the bay opposite Peekskill, 5 

 miles, the windy tempest was against me, but I had the tide. The 

 river is several miles wide at this point. I made for Stony Point, 

 where the river turns due south again, and saw the ruins of Forts 

 Clinton and Montgomery; almost every noint along the river has 

 some historic interest associated with it. Haverstraw Bay begins 

 at Stony Point, resembling a large lake, 5 miles across in its 

 widest part, 



Opposite Sing Sing, Tappan Zee, or Tappan Bay, commences. 

 Here the tide left me and it was a hard pull of five miles to Tarry- 

 town, on the east bank, where an iron lighthouse, half a mile 

 from the shore, marks the entrance. I kept in the middle of the 

 river throughout, and saw a large number of sailing vessels of 

 all sorts and sizes. During the early part of the dav the wind 

 blew from the northwest, finally coming from the west, and thus 

 blowing across the river and making a bad sea, while the drifting 

 of the boat made much calculation necessary to shape a direct 

 course. Rowing straight ahead, the boat would make a mile of 

 leeway in every four. 



The various sloops and schooners were tacking about in a lively 

 manner, and it was interesting to note the comparative progress 

 my craft made on a direct course, while they fetched up here and 

 there. Many invitations to "hitch on" came from the skippers, 

 but I declined. Several of the vessels had been seen previously 

 in Newburgh Bay, where the wind was directly against them, 

 and doubtless they could not get through the Narrows between 

 the Higblands during the night, there being so little room to tack 

 in. Their crews evidently recognized me as an old companion. 



Making Tarrytown at 11, through a heavy sea, I went to the 

 Perry House, a small but neat inn, to get dinner. There are 5,000 

 people here, and it is a pretty place. After dinner I walked to 

 Sleepy Hollow and saw the old Dutch church there, built in 1699, 

 of bricks imported from Holland. I also visited the beautiful 

 cemetery close by, where Washington Irving Is buried. 1 crossed 

 1 'oca ntico tJreok on the bridge over which the Headless Hessian 

 pursued Ichabod Crane, and saw old John Van Tassel, sexton, at 

 the church yard. He firmly believes in "spooks," and even the 

 neighbors declare that they of ton hear the old bell on the church 

 steeple ring at night, though the cause of its vibration is shrouded 

 in mystery. There were some ancient graves around, on one of 

 which was a curious epitaph, evidently that of a sailor: 



"Tho' boisterous winds and Neptune's waves 

 Have tossed me to and fro; 

 By God's decree, you plainly see, 

 I'm harbored here below." 



The day being clear and fine, Sleepy Hollow and its vicinity 

 looked very attractive and beautiful; perhaps no other place is 

 quite so full of legends as this spot. 



Old Mrs. Perry, at the inn, strove to entertain me by talking 

 bicycle for a while, until I assured her that I had not bee'n on one 

 for over a year. She then remarked that my "tights" (knicker- 

 bockers) had made her think that I was traveling in that way. 

 Though she made a mistake of a common kind, it being an ordin- 

 ary fallacy, I am becomiug quite tired of having people gossip on 

 nothing but bicycle sporting news, and questioning me accord- 

 ingly. The best plan seems to be to let them talk themselves out 

 on it, and afterward, just as the cross-examining begins, to quietly 

 state that "1 do not know, not having seen one for a year at least.' r 

 This generally has the desired effect, and silence quickly en- 

 sues. 



Returning to the little town, I got off at 3:30 again. My morn- 

 ing's run was 19 miles; but now the auspices were not so favorable, 

 as the wind was fresh and blowing across the wide bav, kicking 

 up a nasty chop sea, made doubly so on striking the east shore 

 and rebounding. The waves were very high, and I foresaw that 

 great care was necessary to navigate with a loaded boat and an 

 open well. As t discovered after an unlucky draft, the water in 

 Tappan Bay is brackish, in fact almost salty, and unfit to drink- 

 but as this is a sign of my near approach to New York, it was 

 hailed with joy. 1 saw, shortly after leaving Tarrytown, two 

 large flocks of ducks and a couple of fish eagles industriously 

 earning their living. 



Upon starting, I had endeavored to cross the "Zee" in the teeth 

 of the wind, in order to get under the lee of the west shore, but 

 one mile out I was compelled to turn back and make for the 

 nearest port to bail out, having been nearly capsized. Henceforth, 

 by dint of careful management, I reached the Palisades, Smiles 

 below, and these broke the force of the gale, as the river narrowed 

 considerably, this being the end of Tappan Bay. It was hard 

 work, however, and required systematic maneuvering to succeed 

 though I kept inside of the chop caused by the waves rebounding 

 from the east shore. The water was exceedingly rough here, but 

 its direct onslaught was broken by the return wave, and though 

 the boat was pitched about In great fashion, I soon found that she 

 did not take in so much water. 



The boundary of the State of New Jersey begins on the west 

 side at the Palisades. Tappan Zee is a noted place for gales and 

 rough water, and to-day it fully preserved its reputation. I con- 

 sider that for some time my danger was serious, as the water 

 jumped over the decks into the boat freely, and rowing was out of 

 the question. Only a stroke could be taken here and there, as 

 chance allowed. All the sailing craft were well reefed during the 

 day. Had the boat been entirely uncovered, she w T ould have gone 

 down in ten minutes, notwithstanding my utmost exertions. 

 Rowing had to be done in the trough of the sea, and frequent bail- 

 ing was imperative, as the boisterous waves blew all over me. 

 This was anything but pleasant, the weather becoming cold and 

 the gale chilling me to the marrow; and during the remainder of 

 the day I was wet through and exc essively unhappy. 



I passed Irvington, Piermont and Dobbs Ferry, and saw many 

 flue residences on .the east side; while on the west the dark Pali- 

 sades, looming up from 300 to 500ft. above the water, made the 

 evening prematurely early, though they gave me a splendid view 

 until dark. Some of the estates along the bank are royal in size, 

 and among the prettiest are those of Washington Irving and Bier- 

 stadt, the artist. Beyond the town of Hastings, 12 miles further, 

 comes Yonkers, which one can plainly see from the river. The 

 Palisades extend 15 miles to Fort Lee, where we arrived after 

 dark, with Fort Washington directly across the river on the east 

 side. After these were passed I saw the lights of Spuyten Duyvil 

 and Riverdale below, on the same side; and further down came 

 Pleasantvillo, whose lights looked very pretty over the water. 



From this point I first caught the lamps of New York city. Still 

 rowing on steadily, off the upper end of Manhattan Island I tied 

 up to a large sloop at anchor, and ate supper in my boat. The 

 night air was exceedingly cold, and a blanket afforded great com- 

 fort, as I was still wet through. Before long the captain of 

 the sloop appeared, having seen my light, and gave me a hearty 

 invitation to go down into his warm cabin and have a chat. He 

 iemarked that mine must be a pretty chilly job, evidently think- 

 ing me pretty tough to stand it; but I told him that I not only had 

 to stand it but was also very wet. 



Supper was despatched rather hastily, and before long I was 

 forging ahead, keeping a sharp lookout for vessels as I entered 

 the most crow T ded part of the Hudson River abreast New York. I 

 reached Hoboken, 29 miles from Tarrytown, at 8:30, and finding a 

 boat house in between the wharves put up the boat there, and 

 walked to the Park Hotel a block away T . This is a German house, 

 and everybody here appears to belong to that nationality. Ho- 

 boken has, according to mine host, 31,999 people, and 1 remarked 

 to him that if they were all Germans there was quite a settle- 

 ment of them. He did not appear to enjoy this remark, neverthe- 

 less it was gratifying to know that, though a transient inhabi- 

 tant, I made the population an even 32,000. 



In the afternoon 1 saw some fine steamers plving up the river, 

 and just after reaching New York Bay came under the stern of a 

 large schooner, whose crew at once recognized me, having dis- 

 tanced them two days before, and yesterday seeing them again. 

 The third time we met was when they passed me to-day, so now I 

 bade them a final adieu, receiving in return a hearty cheer. Just 

 before reaching Hoboken I observed a remarkably large shooting 

 star, the tail of which remained for some time after the extinc- 

 tion of the meteor itself. There was considerable going on in the 

 steamboat way in the wide river, but my light proved ample 

 protection, though a few frights were had, and what appeared to 

 be narrow escapes. I am firmly of the opinion that it would be 

 most foolhardy to cruise about here at night without one. For 

 the last ten miles the wind had been against me, and blew quite 

 hard. The tides, however, by close calculation, have aided me 

 to-day just seven miles outside of my rowing, but the powerful 

 wind against me about balances this account. I was very tired 

 to-night, having been underway since 5:30 A. M., and rowing just 

 48 miles. M. B. 



Philadelphia, Pa. 



ACADEMY C. C, ROCHESTER, N. Y.-This organization was 

 organized on the last Friday in September, 1889. It adopted a 

 constitution substantially like that of the Rochester C. C, but all 

 of its members are students at the Rochester Free Academy At 

 the first meeting ten persons signed the roll. The club selected 



aunually, and the list of incumbents for the next six months is as 

 follows: Capt., Frank M. Vosburgh, *91j Mate, Albert C. Bell '91- 

 Purser, Howard S. Baker, '92; Meas., Richard L. Saunders, '91* 

 The club at present has no house, but at the last meeting a com- 

 mittee was appointed to thoroughly look into the matter, and all 

 indications are for a house the coming season. During the pa*t 

 winter meetings have been held on alternate Thursday evenings 

 the time being profitably spent in discussing all questions of in- 

 terest to young canoe clubs, 



